Nova Scotia Council of Nursing Unions Bargaining Update: Nurses Vote to Accept Agreement

Nurses represented by the NSNU, NSGEU, CUPE, and Unifor have voted in favour of a five-year contract that will see historic improvements in wages, premiums, occupational health and safety, and work-life balance.

Voting on the agreement took place from July 21st until noon today. 87.5 per cent of those who voted cast ballots in favour of the new agreement that was reached during Conciliation.

Aside from a competitive wage package that should help retain nurses and potentially recruit nurses from outside the province, this agreement addresses many of the challenges nurses confronted during the pandemic and continue to face today, including working short-staffed.

A number of significant language and workload improvements were achieved during this round of negotiations, thanks to the advocacy and dedication of the bargaining teams, and the Interest-Based Negotiations (IBN) process the unions participated in for the first time with the employer group.

Face-to-face bargaining with representatives from the unions, the IWK Health Centre, Nova Scotia Health, and the Department of Health and Wellness commenced in January 2023. The parties engaged in IBN for 27 days, followed by two days of traditional bargaining.

The Nova Scotia Council of Nursing Unions represents over 10,000 Licensed Practical Nurses, Registered Nurses and Nurse Practitioners working in acute and community care. Nurses in Nova Scotia had been without a contract since October 31st, 2020. The new collective agreement will expire October 31st, 2025. The timing of retroactive pay will be addressed by the employers.

We thank those who were able to participate in the ratification voting process. We thank all members for your continued dedication to the nursing profession, the communities you support and the patients in your care.

Your bargaining committee appreciates the patience and support you have shown throughout this prolonged process. If you have questions or concerns about the bargaining process, please contact a member of your bargaining team:

Local 101 Holly Bowdridge, holly.bowdridge@ns.sympatico.ca

Local 195 Angelica Chasse-Naugler, chassenaugler@hotmail.com

Local 101 Lisa Clowater, lisa4burns@hotmail.com

Local 101 Tricia MacLean, tdmac74@gmail.com

Local 101 Kelly Parsons, kpars@eastlink.ca

Local 101 Rochelle Ryan, jrcryan1970@gmail.com

Local 101 Kerri Webster-McIsaac, kerway1149@gmail.com

NSGEU Deputy Negotiator Lynette Johnson, ljohnson@nsgeu.ca